New horizons: welcome to Skipton...

Onwards and upwards (and back to Yorkshire) - after a fun filled few years in the North East, M and I are moving to Skipton, North Yorkshire. Another move to somewhere I'd never been before - but given enjoyment of our moves to Ottawa and Durham, that's not necessarily a bad thing. We are overlapping for a few months; I have now been to Skipton and certainly there's a lot to see and do! Plus a surfeit of ale-based establishments... early mentions to Skipton Sound Bar and The Beer Engine.

The town feels very vibrant, particularly on market day(s) and the community seems very busy. Initial googling/searching/looking around has unearthed the following groups/events/activities (in no particular order) about which I/we will thoroughly enjoy learning more:

Skipton Ukulele Club! - I'm still working away at the ukulele, but have never made it to the Durham Uke Group beyond beginner's class - diary clash - so hoping to join this one!

Skipton Music - a classical events series 10 minutes' walk from home, definitely! Will most likely miss Angela Hewitt, but December onwards... and not to sulk, as Angela is playing the Ilkley Concert Club next May.

In fact there are an awful lot of concert clubs/societies - Camerata and Community Orchestra as well in Skipton, as well as happenings in Settle, Ilkley (extra to the Concert Club!), Bolton Priory, Ripon, Harrogate, Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield (might try out the Contemporary Music Festival!)

In another vein, the Skipton Folk Club looks interesting, as does Skipton Little Theatre.

Maybe next year - Skipton UKE Festival! Also the Yorkshire Dales Ukulele Weekender - plus anything else I come across.

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Music, Poetry and Cake (Gateshead and Lanchester)

Piano at the ready! (by M) After a good few months prep, the concert Piano Music and Poetry (organised through the Gateshead Piano Workshop folks) came around pretty quickly. As one of the participants, I was excited and also a little nervous about the prospect of a Paying Audience. The work paid off, as all the performers were excellent! Well appreciated by the compact audience. The format was in relation to National Poetry Day which was on 2nd October. Each performer chose a poem either in direct or indirect relation to their piece. A summary of the programme: Alan - Liszt Consolation No 4 and Mozart Adagio in B minor Graeme - Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 with 'Uncertainty' by Adam Mickiewicz me - Clara Schumann, andante con sentimento with 'Clara Wieck und Beethoven' by Franz Grillparzer Jim - R Schumann Kinderszenen 1 and 7 with 'My child, we were just children' by Heinrich Heine Ernie - Debussy Clair de lune with excerpt from 'Fêtes g...

From Black Rose to Buena Vista

Two very different but equally impressive live experiences this last weekend. First up, our long overdue homage to the late, great Phil Lynott as Limehouse Lizzy returned to the Point on Friday 2nd March. Certainly on form (and not just lead singer Wayne Ellis, mmmm!) After a late doors, the band came on for a 2 hour set. They started off with Jailbreak (with added pyro), the rest of the main set comprising known songs like Dancing In The Moonlight, Warrior, Emerald, Johnny the Fox, Are You Ready, Killer On The Loose, Cold Sweat, Do Anything You Want To, Out In The Fields, Cowboy Song, Rosalie, The Boys Are Back In Town plus at least 1 early track. The encore included 1 verse/1 chorus from Sarah, Black Rose, Whisky In The Jar and another track. Excellent atmosphere, the place was sold out. The boys are back at the Point in December. Next on to crowd pleasers of a very different sort. M and I managed to get tickets for the sold-out Buena Vista Social Club show at Wales Millennium Centr...

Pigeon Funk

Notes on a very random purchase. Earlier today I acquired Venetian Snares 'Rossz Csillag Alatt Sz ü letett ' purely on the basis of the language and artwork. Its certainly something different - and most definitely not pop. After a bit of searching: Venetial Snares is, according to Wikipedia, the performing name of Aaron Funk, who seems to specialise in experimental tracks in odd time signatures. Article here . The sleeve notes for this album (whose title is Hungarian for 'Born under a bad star') poses the question: what if, for just a day, we could both be pigeons? Interessant. Apparently this concept (a day in the life of a Hungarian pigeon) is non-typical of Venetian Snares sound, but one could ask, does Mr Funk do 'typical'? On first listening, the sound of this CD mixes classical/traditional Hungarian sounds and breakbeats. but aside from that? Definitely a 'listen for yourself' artist; try the website , fan site or myspace .

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